Don't worry, be happy

Abstract

Can we look at a person's face and determine how they feel? AI emotion recognition systems are designed to detect faces and return confidence levels across a set of emotions such as anger, contempt, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise. Such systems already operate in our environment and might have the capacity to seriously impact our lives. In the live performance 'Don't Worry, Be Happy', the artist is strapped to an electric chair. Her face is constantly detected by an emotion recognition AI system. As long as she is detected as 'Happy' she is safe. However, each time any other emotion is observed, she receives an electric shock to both her arms. During the performance the artist changes her apparent behavior in order to free herself from the 'punishment' that the AI system delivers. Yet, under the threat of getting shocked, for how long can she perform this exaggerated facial expression so that the machine continues to 'read' her as 'Happy'? The apparatus presented in this performance utilizes the electric chair as a reminder of the use of new technologies as instruments of the law. Such tools initially appeared as legitimate solutions and was later own understood as problematic and inhumane. The performance aims to remind the viewers that we are not powerless when we are confronted with AI algorithms that are looking at us. The artist resists the emotion recognition system by faking a smile. This performative engagement points out to a future of a post-algorithmic society in which we change our behavior in order to align it with algorithms in our environment.